2 Weeks of Posts Just Because I Forgot to Post

June 18:

This week was a good one! 

This week we have been working hard - and about three days ago I got a surprise, it turns out my companion has the opportunity to return home early from his mission for his studies. He will be flying home this Thursday which is absolutely crazy. I´m still not sure who I will be staying with but it´s probable that I will be in a trio with Elder Segovia and his new companion Elder McWhorter. It´s crazy because Elder Castrejón has been my companion for about two weeks now. And when he leaves we will have had 16 days together. He is a very organized person - also very stylish, the man has five suits. But he´s returning home to Chimbote and I will keep working here.

With your questions Mama - the english classes are really interesting because it´s like I speak english but I always talk super slow and try to enunciate every word. Because I learned that it is hard to explain stuff in english when nobody else in the room knows english. But we have a couple students including some of the youth from our ward who are super willing to learn and try new things. The funny part is when I´ll say hi to them in the church or in the street and they will talk to me with the english they know. It´s weird the amount of times I say ´´hello´´ instead of ´´hola´´ in the street. But with the Spanish I always make an effort to pray personally in Spanish and occasionally I notice that I think in SPanish - especially if I don´t speak english for a while. But most of all with the scriptures - I´ve memorized various scriptures in Spanish that I realized I don´t actually know in english. So that´s something. Dreams are still in english as far am i´m aware...

This week we also ran into a family of inactive members. One of them is named Javier and he is a returned missionary but unfortunately now is living with his partner and they are not married. But Javier came to church with his partner´s cousin whose name is Alex. This Thursday I went on a companionship exchange with Elder Segovia and we taught Alex and Elder Segovia felt prompted to invite him to be baptized - he accepted! They came to sacrament meeting on Sunday and we are going to be visiting him during the week.

We also have another investigator named Isabel who recently has been going through some hard times as her husband was arrested and sent to Iquitos Peru. We have been meeting with her throughout these weeks and have been inviting her to pray and trust continually in the Lord. This week she told us that the situation with her husband has been resolved and is returning home. I was a little dumbfounded at first and then humbled. Isabel expressed an impressive faith and trusted continually in the Lord. And because of that she saw direct blessings. Isabel is preparing now to be baptized the 7th of July.

We are also going to have stake conference here the 1 of July (Canada day!!!) and it´s going to be held in a chapel that is outside the boundaries of our mission. We´re not sure why quite yet but I believe it means that a general authority is coming. That´s exciting!

I know this gospel is true - that truth is something that is directing my life these two years. I am working with all my heart, might, mind and strength to serve the Lord.

Love you guys,

June 25:

Hey familia!!

What´s up? That´s super awesome about Heather´s wedding! That´s crazy to see Coleman and Pete next to each other as well. Also if you have a photo of Will dancing while Coleman, Alex and Olivia sing I would love to see it. It´s super funny because thinking about smashburger here whereever you buy a burger the pattys are super thin like smashburger - so it´s like I have smashburger wherever I go!

Also that´s weird to think about that people still talk about me at home - at times I am so involved here that I forget about other stuff - but I feel like that´s a good part because it´s part of the work - forgetting about myself and leaving behind my issues in favor of the Lord´s work. I have been able to feel the blessings that come from that and I am always learning to love and appreciate everyone of the people I have the privilege to meet and help in my mission.

This week the biggest news is that Elder Castrejón went home - he finished his mission and to my surprise I have a new companion - his name is Elder Chuqui and he is from Quito, Ecuador! It is also his first week in the mission! About a year ago - he was in the mission for about a week but had to go home for various reasons. But he is here back in the mission and it´s my responsability to train him! Wow it´s kind of crazy!

At the beginning of this week I was in the mission offices so that Elder Castrejón could have his last interview and do his English exam. And then on Thursday I went to the mission offices and picked up Elder Chuqui. And now for the last four days I have been taking him all around the area and starting his training. We were talking to Carlos on saturday and he told us that he wants to get baptized but for his work he wants to see which Sunday he can take off for his confirmation, he also told us that if Renzo wants to get baptized he can do it no problem. They are both doing really awesome - Carlos just needs to come to church.

There are so many things happening it´s crazy, I don´t think I can fit them all in one email.

Anyways, I love you guys!

here´s a couple fotos of the zone Elder Castrejón´s last p-day